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No matter what brand you buy, all hearing aids are made up of the same four basic components. These include a microphone
for picking up the sound, an amplifier for increasing the sound level, a receiver or speaker for transmitting the sound to
the ear, and a battery.
How the hearing aid's amplifier processes the sound is what determines what kind it is.
We have two kinds:
analog and digital
There are 2 subcategories of analog hearing aids: conventional and programmable
Conventional Hearing Aids
These aids use analog Class A technology to provide linear-type amplification.
Note that all levels of sound intensity receive the same amount of amplification.
Cost range: $625-$1,325 each
Advanced Technology Hearing Aid
These aids use non-linear or compression Class D amplification that
limits the level of incoming sound volume, delivering a more natural loudness and more balanced sounds. Good for patients
with mild to moderately severe hearing loss and a reduced tolerance to loud sounds.
Cost range: $750-$1,800 each
Programmable
A programmable hearing aid allows the dispenser to adjust the amplifier more precisely
to match the hearing loss by means of computer programming. Such an aid allows the user to switch to different programs depending
on environmental sound levels. These aids contain a linear circuit with a computer chip which can be programmed to accommodate
a patient's hearing needs. Most adaptable to different sound qualities, including variable volumes and frequencies.
Cost range: $1,250- $2,800 each
Digital Programmable
Digital Programmable hearing aids are
digitally programmed in the audiologist office with the use of a computer for specific hearing needs.
Completely
Digital
The top of the line is the completely digital and does all your hearing work for you. It is the most
expensive.
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If I'm right, most or all "Programmable" aids are digitally
programmable ... they can be set and they store
their program information using little computer-like circuits (that is, digitally, not via analog).
I think most
or all hearing aids that process the sound via digital technology also use it for setting/storing their program information.
In the future, these distinctions will all disappear, since all aids will be fully digital (with digital sound processing
and settings control).
You may get a better answer on Beyond Hearing, since there are lots more really knowledgeable
people there.
This ChapterLeaders list is a great place to talk about ChapterLeader needs, and it appears that
one of those needs is more information about various hearing aid and ALD technolgy ... You can get a great education on those
kinds of things at the Beyond Hearing List ...
For information on how to subscribe, see
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/4727/bhframe.htm
If you're a "newbie" to overcoming hearing loss, while you're at that web site, you might check out the
acronym list and glossary ... that, too, will give you a headstart to this business of being HoH.
SteveB
Steve
Barber
104 Sylvan Grove
Cary, NC 27511
919-851-4244
jsbarbe@attglobal.net
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002
15:08:34 -0500
From: Miriam Clifford <dmimi@duke.edu
Subject: Re: Digital Programmable Hearing Aids
As
a senior citizen, I'd like to warn you'all to be careful
about over-generalizing your advice. If someone comes on to
me with a 'simple' device because I'm too old to understand what a more complex one is all about, I'll walk out. To put it
mildly.
I'm using the top of the line, programable aids and enjoying the rather subtle difference between them and
the previous not-quite-so-sophisticated aids that I had before. And I'm sure I'm not the only senior with the brains and
the interest to use them sucessfully.
--On Saturday, January 12, 2002 5:18 PM +0000 COHEAR@aol.com wrote:
One
other thought while I am on my soap box. It is frustrating to find the elderly being fit with programmable hearing aids that
even to me are to confusing. Keeping up with a remote as well as knowing what all the buttons do is too much even for me
much less a senior citizen. I have yet to hear anything good about programmable hearing aids. How about some input from
the everyone regarding their thoughts on programmables?
Hi Pati
I am a senior citizen who has been wearing
a digital programmable hearing aid in each ear for the last two years. I can now hear in a noisy environment. I can also
hear on a noisy busload of seniors. The best thing is that the background noise can be softened. People need to tell the
audiologist their hearing needs. If the audiologist will not work with them find one who will.
Digitally programmable
hearing aids have the ability to fine tune the hearing responses to the individual needs. There is an ability to change the
amplification should my hearing loss become more severe. There is no need to purchase another hearing aid if my hearing changes.
Do not get confused with analog, programmable, digitally programmable and True Digital hearing aids. Have your
hearing health provider explain the difference. I wear a hearing aid in each ear as both ears have a severe loss.
The hearing aids I now have are Phonak (brand name) and they are behind-the-ear PiCS (Personal Integrated Communication System)
Mark 2. It includes a remote control called a Digital Handy Control, this is the gadget I carry around with me all the time.
You can also wear it around
your neck if desired. The remote is an integral part of these hearing aids. I have three
programs specified for my hearing loss. Program (1) is for conversation in a quiet room. Program (2) is in a noisy restaurant
or convention all or talking to someone on an airplane. Program (3) is for hearing at a football game. What program #2
and #3 does is eliminate the background noise. There is a plus sign button for increasing the volume and a minus sign button
for decreasing the volume which is on the remote. There is also a t-coil to help hear on the phone and can also be used with
assistive listening devices and there is also a autozoom (AZ) feature which can zoom in on to the person you are talking
to.
There are four types of hearing aids. Analog, this lets you hear all sounds even those you do not want to hear.
Programmable aids are programmed for your specific loss and then there is the Digital Programmable (Behind the Ear) BTE,
which is what I wear, this hearing aid is digitally programmed in the audiologist office with the use of a computer for
my specific hearing needs. The top of the line is the completely digital and does all your hearing work for you. It is the
most expensive. With completely digital hearing aids no remote is needed.
There are hearing aids so small, they
cannot do all the work a behind-the-ear hearing aid can perform. They are too small to hold all the necessary electronics
needed to hear well. Programmable hearing aids are programmed for your hearing loss, but since they are not a digitally program
they cannot remove noisy environments.
Many people with hearing loss have problem called recruitment. Recruitment
is when a loud noise is heard, it sounds extra loud to the person with a hearing loss. This noise can be reduced and automatically
softened with a program identified as Wide Range Dynamic Compression.
This program softens loud noises and increases
the volume of soft sounds (the sounds we hard of hearing people want to hear). Everyone should have this program included
in their hearing aids as well as a T-coil.
Hermine Willey
Ohio SHHH Coordinator
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